[TQ 59174674] St Peter & St Paul's Church. (NAT) (1)

Church of St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge. 12th/15th century. with 1879 south aisle. (2)

In normal use. (3)

1732 Church of St Peter and St Paul, Church Lane. TQ 5946 NW 3/55 8.5.50. Grade B. C12-C15. Enlarged in 17th century and substantially restored in late 19th century (1877) by Ewan Christian. In plan consisting of western tower, nave with north and south aisles, and chancel with south chancel with south chancel aisle. North wall of chancel incorporates only remaining fragments of 12th century church. (4)

St Peter and St Paul, Tonbridge. Wholly built of local sandstone, but unattractive since wholesale renewal and enlargement by Christian, 1877-9, who added an outer south aisle to the existing one, built only in 1820. The battlemented west tower is early 14th century. It now looks too small for the church. The earliest part is the chancel, as the irregular rubble walling on the north side shows. There is one Norman north window, with traces of another west of it. The longer round-headed window to the east must be a fake, and set in what is no doubt a lengthening of the original chancel. 14th century chancel arch, of two hollow chamfers dying into the wall. 13th century five-bay north arcade in the nave, of tall piers with moulded caps. (5)

Description from record TQ 54 NE 205:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:

598/3/55 CHURCH LANE 08-MAY-50 CHURCH OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL
II*
C12-Cl5. Enlarged and substantially restored in late C19 (1877) by Ewan Christian. In plan consisting of western tower, nave with north and south aisles, and chancel with south chancel aisle. North wall of chancel incorporates only remaining fragments of C12 church.
Listing NGR: TQ5917446743 (8)

<1> OS 25" 1908 (OS Card Reference). SKE48259.

<2> MLGH Tonbridge RD May 1949 6 No 1/55 (OS Card Reference). SKE47223.

<3> F1 ASP 15.01.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42110.

<4> DOE(HHR) Dist of Tonbridge UD Knt 1972 6 (OS Card Reference). SKE41096.

<5> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 568-9 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37918.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 54 NE 6 - January, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE2717.

<7> Diocese of Rochester (Tim Tatton-Brown), 1994, Tonbridge, St Peter and Paul:Diocesan church survey (Unpublished document). SKE29522.

<8> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.